[Magazine article LexpressProperty 71 (October - November)]
A garden with an almost fairy-tale feel, in which the plants and shrubs emerge as moving silhouettes in the glow of the light... Liven up your green space with a magnificent display of light at nightfall. Be it to enhance your summer dining spots or to enhance your evening strolls, here are some ideas for beautiful outdoor lighting.
Glowing terraces and gardens
Summer is on its way and it’s time to enjoy evenings on the patio, by the pool or in the garden. To help you set off those relaxing outdoor areas, here are a few tips.
Flagging off walkways
Regardless of how big or small your garden is, it surely has a pathway leading to the house, terrace or swimming pool. Rather than merely illuminating it with a bold light, accentuate the path with bollards or spotlights to provide soft, glare-free light. These lighting systems guide visitors by pointing out the way, but more importantly they offer a very welcoming look!
Illuminate trees and shrubs
Bring your garden to life! Use LED bars or spotlights to highlight trees. To create a zen atmosphere, the lighting should be soft and discreet with a light intensity diffusing a soothing warm white.
For a more whimsical atmosphere, you can hang string lights on a branch over your garden table.
Light up watering points
One golden rule to follow to ensure that a water feature looks at its best at night is that lighting should come from the inside. This is both for aesthetic and safety reasons! Whether it is a swimming pool, a fountain or a natural pond, consider using spotlights or LEDs. It goes without saying that lighting from indoors will bring a cosy and romantic note to the garden.
Gentle light on the tables
While garden lamps help you to see your surroundings more clearly when it gets dark, the right lighting on the terrace and on the table sets the tone for your evening. Small floor lamps, candles, string lights or baubles - add lighting near your dining table or garden furniture.
Expert advice : Clardy Ltd
“In Mauritius we tend to live and socialise outdoors whether it is under the verandas, in the garden or even around the pool areas. Therefore, a well-lit exterior is an absolute must.
When cleverly illuminated, these spaces often incorporate several levels of lighting, allowing you to enjoy direct and indirect light, and create a bespoke lighting atmosphere.
From an aesthetic point of view, as well as from a practical point of view, it is optimal to combine several sources and types of light, in order to be prepared to adapt your lighting to all situations. We also recommend determining the spaces to be equipped with lighting, whether they should be focused on or not, and the desired moods for each space. Even if the number of lights is important, so is the place where they are placed.
As we represent a number of lighting brands, our suppliers have a multitude of outdoor lighting options, from wall lights, pendant lights, directional spotlights (surface mounted or recessed), garden spotlights, bollards and solar powered or rechargeable nomadic lights.
The IP rating of your outdoor lights should be identified at the time of installation. This indicates the extent to which the equipment is protected against the intrusion of solid and liquid materials.
Whether you are a fan of outdoor dining, or you enjoy reading after dinner, or you simply like to relax and enjoy nature, your lighting needs are different. Functional lighting is essential, but creating different lighting moods outdoors can also be very pleasant. To create a friendly and soothing atmosphere, string lights hanging from trees in the garden can be a good option.
Garden spotlights in the ground are often the solution to highlight certain plants. Under the veranda, several options are possible: decorative lighting with beautiful hanging lights on the dining table or living room area and functional lighting with adjustable spotlights. Finally, nomadic light sources are still the ideal solution for additional lighting that can be taken anywhere in the garden. They can be solar powered or rechargeable.”
Bérengère Leclézio, Sales Manager Lighting Department
